Strengthening the Church in praise…

Pentecost B: May 27

NOTE: We hope you return to this posting often (and are subscribed to the feed by email, on Facebook or your favorite reader), since the content of each week’s posting may change several times before Sunday. We’d also like to include your content, even after the fact, since everything will roll around again in 3 years, and your contributions may find new life in the great cycle of the lectionary.

Since Chalice Hymnal does not provide a complete Psalter, there will be occasions when suggestions may be made for alternate Psalm use (or hymn equivalent). Chalice Hymnal p. 754 offers a portion of the Psalm appointed for reading in the Roman Catholic Church. Hymns #17 & 64 reference the Psalm generally. Call to Worship below is an adaptation by the editor.

Call to Worship(adapted by the editor from portions of the Psalm of the day; given in two parts, either or both of which may be useful.)

I.

L: Bless the Lord, O my soul, who is clothed with honor and majesty,

5P: God set the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be shaken.1

God waters the mountains, and satisfies the earth with plentiful fruit.

14L: God causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use,

gives wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine,

and bread to strengthen the human heart.

24P: O Lord, how manifold are your works! The earth is full of your creatures.

30

II.

L: When you send forth your spirit, O God, all things are created; and you renew the face of the ground.

31P: May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works.

33L: I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;

P: I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

34L: May my meditation be pleasing to God, for I rejoice in the Lord.

35P: Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!

From the United Church of Christ

L: The Spirit descends like a dove, bringing peace to unite the world in a just and caring community.

P: The Spirit comes like a breath, bringing life to renew the people of God.

L: The Spirit spreads like fire, bringing energy for witnessing to the love of God.

P: Spirit of the living God, come to us and transform our lives by your power.

Prayer of Approach(created or adapted by the editor)

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: Let us pray. Almighty God, you give life and power to your church through the gift of your Spirit. Inspire us to bear witness to our living Lord. Quicken us to a recognition of your presence. Create in us grateful hearts. Challenge our minds with your wisdom. Encourage us with a heightened vision and hope. This we pray in the name of your Son Jesus Christ (who taught us to pray, “Our Father…”)

or

O God, we ask you to pour out your spirit on us. Help us serve you more cheerfully so we can serve our brothers and sisters. Cast out everything which breaks or hinders the growing bonds of love between us. Give us the determination to make progress so that all our lives we may seek after your holy and perfect will. This we pray in the name of your Son Jesus Christ (who taught us to pray, “Our Father…”)

Intercessions(adapted by the editor)

The following 6 petitions may be used as collects, or brought into one pastoral prayer.

O Holy Spirit, Tongue of Fire, descend upon us as you descended upon the disciples gathered in the upper room for prayer. Sanctify us, free us from the bondage of sin, and give us your power to speak with one voice.

Rushing Wind, sweep over our lands and make your sound gather again your devout people from every nation under heaven. Help us to manifest together the victory of life over death given through the resurrection. Make us signs of the living hope and witnesses for your peace.

Giver of Life, abide in us, transform our former selves into a new life in faithfulness to God’s will. Along with all others with whom we live, with all nations and peoples, we would enter a new time of transformation, when hatred is replaced by love, violence by meaningful discourse, condemnation by forgiveness, and self-centeredness by sharing.

Power of Unity, help us to move from the Babel of division toward the Pentecost of unity, even here amidst the diversity of gifts, traditions, and cultures. Make your church to be ministers of reconciliation among the children of the world.

Spirit of Truth, free us from our alienation from you. Liberate us from the powers and principalities which oppress and alienate. Make us instruments of your just peace, to which we have been called by prophets, apostles, and martyrs.

O Holy Spirit, the splendor of Christ’s realm is through your power, now available to us all. Make us messengers of the good news, apostles of your peace, that we may be known as children of God.

OR

(ref. Ezekiel)

We thank you, redeeming God, for the glorious message that you bring new hope out of despair, resurrection out of defeat, and new life out of death. You call dry bones to dance, you give living water so that new life blossoms, you urge flowers to push their way through winter-hardened soil.

We bring to you the dead and dried out places in our lives, that through your touch we may discover new life—forgotten dreams, lapsed intentions, hardened resentments, griefs to which we cling, like children who cling to a worn out but cherished toy or blanket. These we hand over to you, knowing that you will return them, mended, washed, renewed, transformed.

We bring to you the places in our lives and in our world where despair reigns unchallenged, those parts of our world suffering from natural disasters, as well as those suffering from war and strife. Point us toward actions, however small, which lead to a more hopeful future for ourselves and for our world.

Our hearts are turned as well to those whose lives are closely linked with our own, who suffer illness and sorrow and grief, even on this day of life. Heal them and help them to see you in their lives.

Gracious God, we thank you that you walk beside us as we journey through life. Because you are with us, we accept each new day with its joys and sorrows as a gift. Because you are with us, we gain courage to meet the challenges of the day, choosing life and not death. As you raised Jesus from the dead, raise us to new life day by day, for we pray in his name.

Collect of the Day(created or adapted by the editor)

O God, you sent the promised fire of your Spirit to make saints of common folk. Once more, as we are waiting and together, may we be inflamed with such love for you that may speak boldly in your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God, who as at this time
taught the hearts of your faithful people
by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit:
grant us by the same Spirit
to have a right judgement in all things
and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort;
through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Post Communion

Faithful God,
who fulfilled the promises of Easter
by sending us your Holy Spirit
and opening to every race and nation
the way of life eternal:
open our lips by your Spirit,
that every tongue may tell of your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Alternative Collect

Holy Spirit, sent by the Father,
ignite in us your holy fire;
strengthen your children with the gift of faith,
revive your Church with the breath of love,
and renew the face of the earth,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Intercessions and other helpful planning materials geared to the Lectionary (using Roman Catholic version, but normally quite useful for all traditions) for preaching and worship are supplied for several weeks in advance at The Sunday Website of St. Louis University.

Liturgies created by Moira Laidlaw(Uniting Church in Australia) as a part of her doctoral dissertation are often helpful. Read more here.

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